Air-ship.



4 BHEETfl-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

G. BOLD. AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1906.

No. 853,760. PATENTED MAY 14; 1907.

G. BOLD. AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1906.

4 SHEETl-SHQET 2.

uvmvfop. QearyeBaZd A TTOHNEYS PATENTED MAY 14, 1907. G.BOLD. AIR SHIP.APPLIOATIOE FILED NOV. 27, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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G. BOLD. AIR SHIP. APPLIOALILLON FILED nqv. 27, 1906.

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/v wmwr WITNESSES 56w w GEORGE BOLD, "(511 PLAiiii iiiLD, NEW JERSEY.

AIR-SHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed November 27, 1906. Serial No. 346,280.

To all when it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BOLD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and Improved Air-Ship, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an improvement in airships, having among otherobjectsto provide for the utilization of side currents of air when the ship isin flight, by employing the same to assist in driving the ship and alsoto provide for the easy control of the ship's movements by in effectgiving flexibility to its hull and for the convenient storage anddischarge of ballast.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ship complete; Fig. 2 is a front endelevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially ontheline 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 isa longitudinal, central, vertical section through the ship body and afragment of one of the gas-bags; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 ofFig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6 is a cross sectionon the line 66 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a rear end view of the rudder.

In carrying out my invention I employ a car or hull 1, which issubstantially semielliptical in cross section with the sides convergingtoward fiattened ends 2, as shown. in dotted outline in Fig. 3. Thebottom of the hull 1, as shown in Fig. 2, is constructed with a concaveportion 3 running the length or the hull, forming at each sideprojecting angles 4, which give the ship a firm seating when resting on.the ground. Just above the concave portion 3 in the hull of the ship isa lower or main deck 5, which is supported by a series of crosspartitions 6 forming in connection with said hull, a series of ballastcompartments. Each of these compartments is provided with an opening 7passing through the bottom of the ship, over which is seated a valve 8normally forcedto its seat by a spring 9 interposed between the upperface of the valve and a crossbar 10. The upper end of each valve stem isconnected. by a cord or other device 11 having a suitable operatinghandle 12 arranged above the main deck 5. l The ballast compartments maybe fille with water, sand or. other flowing heavy medium, which may bedischarged through any one of the openings 7, by withdrawingitsrespective valve from its seat by the attachedhandle above the maindeck. It is Carried above the hull 1 on suitable supports 13 is amarginal upper deck 14, which is made accessible to and from the lowerdeck bya connecting ladder 15.. The upper deck '14 supports ateach end aframe-work 16,

ly constructed of light tubing bent I or otherwise formed intorectangular sha e. These rectangular frames support at suita le preferaintervals, three being shown in Fig. 2, bands 17 each having a net-work18 arranged at its outer side. In the alining bands of each framegas-bags 19 are placed, which are held from longitudinal movement by thenets 18 and are further supported intermediate their length b'y/bands 17connected to the frames 16 by longitudinal bars 20. This constructionprovides for the secure holding of the gas-bags, positively maintainingthe same from movement in any direction, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. Ateach side of the frame 16 are attached masts 21, also constructed oftubing and carrying sails 22 controlled in the usual or any preferredmanner from the upper marginal deck 14. These sails and also thegas-bags may, under some conditions, be dispensed with, as for example,should the power means hereinafter described and carried by the hull ofthe ship, be found sufficient.

At the forward end of the ship is arranged a pointed, hollow body 23,which is preferably of pyramidal shape, and is pivoted to the forwardend 2 on a pin 24, adapting the body to be moved side from side indirecting the Ice rod 34 passes through the bore of the spindle From theconstruction and arrangement of position in which it is set. Forcontrolling the movement of the body 23, a handle 26 is rigidly attachedthereto and passes to a point within the ship where it may be readilyoperated from the deck 5.

Journaled at each side of the hull 1 of the ship in a bearing-box 27, isa hollow spindle 28, as best shown in Fig. 5, and held from longitudinalmovement by a collar 29 formed as an integral part thereof at theoutside of the hull and by a crank arm 30 ad justably fixed to itsopposite inner end by a set-screw 31. That part of the spindle extendingbeyond the collar 29 forms a bearing for the hub of a wind-wheel 32,said hub being slightly counterbored at the outer end for receiving thehead 33 of a rod 34. The

28 and is adapted to clamp the hub of the wind-wheel against the collar29 by means of a nut 32 threaded on its outer end and seated on aconical washer 33 let into a corresponding recess in the shaft 28. Bythis construction the wind-wheeland shaft may be friction-ally connectedtogether or the nut 32 loosened to permit the wind-wheel to freely turnupon the'outer end of the shaft; or if it is desired to hold both theshaft and windwheel rigid, a set-screw 35 threaded through the box 27and contacting with a bindingstrip 36 may be screwed up to bind theshaft in its bearing and hold it against rotation.

To each crank arm '30 is pivotally connected a link 37, the opposite endof which is pivoted to a rocker arm 38, the latter being adjustablyfixed to a shaft 39 passing through and also journaled in the side oftheship. As shown in Fig. 4, the pivot-bolt or pin at each end of the link37 is adjustable to change the throw of the crank arms and rocker arms,or to shorten or lengthen the link. To the outer end of each shaft 39 isfixed a rearwardly-extending wing 40, preferably of the shape shown, andhaving an arm 41 at the opposite side of the shaft 39 which carries asuitable counterweight 42.

the wind-wheels and propellers it is evident that the former will bedriven by side currents of air 011 the Ship, causing the propellers tooscillate and assist the ship in its upward flight, or the propellersmay be thrown out of action by releasing the rods 34 or by tighteningthe set-screws 35 as hereinbefore indicated.

At the stern end of the ship is pivoted on a pin or bolt 43 in orderthat it may be swung' from side to side, a hollow body 44 similar inconstruction to the body 23 but having its outer end slightly truncated,as shown at 45 in Fig. 4, to the outer edge of which is hinged a plate46 carrying arudder 47. The shape of the bodies 23 and 44 is such thatthe resistance of the hull of the shi when passing through the air, willbe re need to a minimum, whereas their pivotal movement will in effectgive great flexibility to the body of the ship as in a bird while inflight adapting the movement of the ship to be easily controlled. Thehollow character of the bodies obviously relieves them of unnecessaryweight. This rudder, as best shown in Fig. 7, consists of twointersecting blades arranged at right angles to each other, and may beswung to an angular position in a vertical plane by a line 48 leading toa convenient point on the ship. The hollow body 44, and consequently therudder 47, is moved from side to side on the pivot 43 by lines 49connected to the outer edges of the body and leading to any desired formof steering mechanism. Fixed on the body 44 to its upper face is a motor50, having pulleys 51 secured to the outer end of its driving shaft,which are each connected with a pulley 52 through the intermediary ofbelts 53, one of said belts being crossed in order that the pulleys maybe driven in o posite directions. The pulleys 52 are fixed to shafts 54journaled in the outer ends of arms 55 extending from the. body 44. Theopposite ends of said shafts 54 carry, respectively, a right and a lefthand propeller 56, this construction adapting the propellers to bedriven in opposite irections when forcing the ship forward or rearward,thereby steadying the shi in its flight.

Although I have descrified the invention in its preferred embodiment, itis evident that the same may be variously modified without de artingfrom the spirit thereof, and I consi er myself entitled to such changesas fall within the scope of the annexed claims. I

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby .Iictters Patent:

1. In an air-ship, a hull having a main deck, a series of artitionscrosswise arranged between the huff and deck directly connecting themtogether and forming a series of ballast com artments, and means fordischarging ba last from each compartment.

2. In an air-ship, a hull having a main deck, a series of artitionscrosswise arranged between the huff and deck directly connecting themtogether and forming a series of ballast compartments, a valve fordischarging ballast from each compartment, and means for independentlyoperating the valves.

3. I11 an air-ship, a hull having a main deck, a series of partitionscrosswise arranged between the hull and deck directly connecting themtogether and forming a series of compartments, a valve seated over anopening in the bottom of each compartment, and means independentlyoperable above the deck to withdrmv each of said valves from theirseats.

4. In an air-ship, a hull having a main deck, a series of )artitionscrosswise arranged between the hufl and deck directly connecting themtogether and forming a series of j of sets of bands supported betweenthe compartments, a valve seated overan opening 1n the bottom of eachcompartment, a spring normally'forcmg each valve to its seat,

and devices connected to said valves and independently operable fromsaid deck to I withdraw any one of said valves from its seat. 1

5. An air-ship having ahu'll substantially,

semi-elliptical in cross section with a concave portion 1n the bottomthereof, for the pursemi-elliptical in cross section andconverglongitudinally arranged in the bottom of the ing toward each end,and a concave portion ship, for the purpose described.

7. An air-ship having a hull with a, concave portion runninglongitudinally in the bottom thereof, for the purpose described.

8. An air-ship having a frame near each end thereof, bands 'alining witheach other secured tothe frames, and a gas-bag held in v and completely.encircled by said bands.

9. An air-ship having a frame at each end thereof, alining bands securedin the frames, means connecting the frames together and supporting anintermediate band, and a gasbag held in and completely encircled by saidbands.

10. An air-ship having a frame at each end thereof, alining bandssecured to each frame, an independent net-work at the outer side of eachband attached thereto, and a gas-bag carried in the bands and held fromlongitudinal movement by said net-work.

1 1. An air-ship having a frame at each end thereof, a series of sets ofbands arranged one above the other with the bands of each set aliningwith each other and carried by the frames, and a gas-bag carried in eachset of bands.

12. An air-ship having a series of gas-bags arranged longitudinallythereof and fixedly supported one above the other, and a sail at eachside of the gas-bags.

13. An air-ship having a sail near each end and on both sides thereof,and a gas-bag fixed intermediate said sails. I

14. 'In an air-ship, a rectangular frame supported at each end thereof,masts arranged at the outside and supported by each frame, a sailcarried byeach mast, and a gasbag su ported between the frames.

15. 11 an air-ship, a rectangular, tubular frame at each end thereof, atubular mast connected to and at -the outside of each frame, a sailcarried by each mast, and a series of gas-bags arranged longitudinallyof the ship one above the other and supported by said frames.

16. In an air-ship, a rectangular, tubular frame near each end thereof,a tubular mast connected to and at the outside of each frame, a sailcarried by each mast, a series frames, a gas-bag carried by each setofbands, and a net-work attached to the bands inclosing the outer endsof the gas-bags.

'17. An air-ship comprising a hull, a pointed hollow body at the forwardend of the hull, and a universal joint connecting the hull and bodytogether, for the purpose described.

18. An air-ship comprising a hull, a hollow pyramid at the forward endof the hull, a universal joint connecting the pyramid and hull together,and means operable within the ship to shift the direction of saidpyramid.

19; An air-ship com rising a hull having a main deck, a pointed lOllOWbody arranged at the forward end of the hull, a universal jointconnecting the body and hull together, and a lever rigidly attached tosaid body and operable from said deck for shifting the direction of saidbody.

20. An air-ship havin a Wind-Wheel journaled at the side thereo a wingfor driving the ship; and means for driving said wing from said wheel.

' 21. An air-ship having a Wind-wheel journaled at the side thereof, awing for driving the ship,.means for driving said wingfrom said wheel,and means for throwing said wheel out of action. 4

22. An air-ship having a wind-wheel journaled at the side thereof, awing journaled at the side of the ship, and means connecting the wheeland Wing to ether adapted to oscillate the wing when t e wheel-isdriven.

23. An air-ship having a Wind-wheel journaled at the side thereof, aWing journaled at the side of the ship, a crank-arm adapted to be drivenby the wheel, a crank-arm fixed to the wing, andan adjustable linkconnecting the crank-arms together.

24. An air-ship havin a wind-wheel journaled at the side thereo a wingfor driving the ship, counterbalancing means for the wing, and means fordriving said wing from said wheel. i

25. An air-ship having a wind-wheel journaled at each side thereof, awing journaled at each side of the ship adapted to oscillate in avertical plane, and means connecting the wheels with the wings wherebyas the wheels are driven the wings may be oscillated.

26. An air-ship having a bearing-box arranged in each side thereof,ahollow spindle journaled in each bearing-box, a wind-wheel journaled oneach spindle, means for connecting the wheels with the spindles, a wingjournaled at each side'of' the ship, and means intermediate the wingsand spindles whereby they are adapted to be driven therefrom.

27. An air-ship having a bearing-box arranged ineach side thereof, ahollow spindle journaled in each hearing-hex, a wind-wheel journaled oneach spindle, a wing journaled at each side of the ship, meanshiterluediate the wings and spindles whereby they are adapted to bedriven therefrom, means for clamping the spindles in their boxes, and arod passing through each spindle adapted to frictionally connect it withsaid Wheels.

28. In an air-ship, a hull, a member pivoted at the stern end of thehull, a propeller carried by said member for driving the ship and arudder pivoted to said member.

29. In an air-ship, a hull, a hollow body pivoted to move sidewise atthe stern end of the hull, propellers carried by said body, a motorcarried by said body for driving the propellers, and means for swingingsaid body on its pivot from the hull of the ship.

' 30. In an air-ship, a hull, a hollow body pivotally connected thereto,propellers carried by the hollow body journaled at opposite sidesthereof, a rudder hinged to the rear end of said body, means for movingthe hollow body on its pivot, and means for turning the rudder on itshinge adapted to be controlled from the interior of the ship.

31. In an airship, a hull, a body pivoted at the stern end of the hullto swing in a horizontal plane, and a rudder hinged at the rear end ofthe body to swing in a vertical plane.

32. In an air-ship, a hull, a body pivotally connected to the hull toswing in a horizontal plane, and a rudder consisting of two bladesintersecting each other at right angles and hingedly connected to therear end of said body.

33. In an air-ship, a hull, a body pivoted to swing sidewise at the rearend of the hull, a right hand and a left hand propeller journaled atopposite sides of said body, and means for driving said propellers inopposite directions, for the purpose described.

34. In an air-ship, a hull, a hollow body pivoted to swing sidewise atthe stern 0nd of the hull, a right hand and a left hand propellerjournaled at opposite sides of the body, and a motor carried by saidbody for driving the propellers in opposite directions.

35. In an air-ship, a hull, a pointed hollow body pivoted to swingsidewise at the stern end of the hull, and a rudder consisting of twointersecting blades hinged at the outer end of said body and adapted toswing in a vertical plane.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE BOLD. Witnesses:

WM. MoD. CORIELL, MABEL SMITH.

